The FBI apprehended a 16-year-old who went missing on February 16 in Ohio. The probe spanned many states and lasted one month. On Friday, agents found the teen in a hotel room near Jacksonville, Florida.
Negron, a Tennessee man, has been named as the suspect. He was previously tied to the 2024 kidnapping of a 17-year-old Texas girl for sexual purposes. He has a history of kidnapping and sexually abusing children.
So far, the allegations against him are pending because the digital evidence is still being reviewed. He may face charges of transporting a minor for sexual activity. Negron was not charged in the 2024 kidnapping, but the department did meet with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio to explore the case.
The missing girl in the latest instance came from Colerain Township, Ohio. According to federal agents, identifying the suspect helped them locate her in Florida.
Agents visited Negron’s home in Tennessee, but he had already escaped. They were able to trace his vehicle, which arrived at Palatka later that morning. The adolescent was taken to safety, and the accused was arrested.
Previously, the suspect was accused of keeping a shotgun in his home and threatening law enforcement authorities. He also has a criminal record that includes theft, trespassing, meth possession, and criminal mischief.
This incident is the second identical case this week, demonstrating the FBI’s ability in apprehending child offenders. Kash Patel, the FBI’s director, said, “This case is the best of the FBI working with our great local partners: acting quickly, using elite technology capabilities, and deploying the best of the best tactical units to find the alleged kidnapper and very likely save a young girl’s life.”
He also thanked the field offices in Cincinnati, Nashville, and Jacksonville for their exceptional contributions to the inquiry. Previously, the FBI saved a 13-year-old child and a 7-month-old baby with the assistance of the Buffalo and Charlotte field offices.
Netizens also praised the department’s efforts to protect children, though others said that it shouldn’t have taken a month. They were sensitive to the difficulties the teenage girl may have had during her life, including potential trauma from her experiences and the challenges of being a minor in a dangerous situation.